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Psychological injuries are diagnosable mental health conditions, such as PTSD, depression or anxiety disorders, arising from traumatic events or extreme stress, often due to third-party negligence. It can hinder daily life and usually requires specialised treatment to find a solution. Legally, they represent significant, evidence-based psychological harm that has been directly caused by something else.
This article aims to highlight the warning signs, potential risks and practical steps to take if you suspect something has caused you to be suffering from psychological injuries. Continue reading to find out more.
What Classifies as a Psychological Injury?
Psychological injuries, often recognised in personal injury claims, can often be described as:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Triggered by trauma, involving flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety. This usually comes from one core event that has caused it, which is why it’s common to see those who have experienced war have PTSD.
- Anxiety and Panic Disorders: Persistent worry and panic attacks can be signs that you have suffered a psychological injury. It might be the case that you rarely have any positive thoughts.
- Depression: Persistent low mood that impacts on daily life should always be addressed. It’s most common that this comes from stressful life events, but can also be caused by genetics in some instances.
- Adjustment Disorders: Difficulty coping with a major life change or traumatic event. These usually appear within three months of the event and typically resolve within six months.
- Phobias: Irrational fears resulting from an accident. This can include things like a fear of driving after getting into a crash or not wanting to use an elevator after getting stuck in one.
What are the Signs of a Psychological Injury
Key signs of a psychological injury can usually be seen through a combination of emotional, behavioural and physical changes that can significantly change a person’s daily life. An individual might experience intense feelings of anxiety or hopelessness alongside irritability and frequent panic attacks. These coincide with behavioral and cognitive changes, such as persistent nightmares or flashbacks and an active avoidance of specific people and places that trigger distress.
On a physical level, the body often reacts to internal trauma through chronic fatigue or headaches, as well as sleep disturbances and muscle tension. These symptoms often lead to a situation where the individual withdraws from loved ones and experiences a decline in workplace productivity. In some instances, people may even turn to the misuse of substances as a way to cope with their underlying pain.
The Importance of Professional Diagnosis
While noticing that you have an issue is very important for overcoming your psychological injury, self-diagnosis can only go so far. In order for you to get medical help and legal success, you will need to get formal diagnosis from a professional. Visiting a psychiatrist is recommended, as they can advise the best course of action based on your experiences.
Professionals use standardised tools to categorise each injury, so they can make a clean plan of the type of help you’ll need and whether or not you’ve got a valid compensation claim. They can take a specific incident, such as a car crash or workplace trauma to see who directly caused your injuries and then go from there.
What To Do If You’re Struggling From Psychological Injury
If you’re struggling from psychological injury, you don’t have to face it alone. Prioritising safety, seeking professional support from a GP or therapist and engaging in self-care routines can all help you find peace after you’ve become a victim of psychological injuries. Make sure to avoid isolation, reduce using substances and focus on patient recovery through trauma-focused therapy.
You should also get in touch with solicitors to start a psychological injury claim, as you could be owed compensation without you knowing it. All psychological injuries stem from somewhere, so finding out where it started can be great for seeing if you have a claim. It could be down to negligence of another person or business, so you then claim against them to try to gain compensation for the injury they’ve caused you with the help of a legal firm.
How Compensation Can Actually Help
Getting a compensation claim for your injury can help you out financially, but it’s also about using it as a recovery tool to benefit your mental wellbeing. Reimbursing the money lost if the injury made it impossible to work can be a great feeling that can give you a mental health boost, as well as looking good in your bank account.
Compensation for the actual pain, suffering and loss of amenity can help you start to enjoy life again with less of a burden being on the incident that happened. However, having a successful claim is only one part of it, so you should take the time to complete some self care to ensure that you improve your quality of life.